Proverbs 17:18

Pro 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Ver. 18. A man void of understanding striketh hands.] Of the folly and misery of rash suretyship, see Pro 6:1-3 {See Trapp on "Pro 6:1"} {See Trapp on "Pro 6:2"} {See Trapp on "Pro 6:3"}

In the presence of his friend.] Or, Before his friend; that is, before his friend do it, who was better able, and more obliged. Thus like a woodcock he puts his neck into the gin, his foot into the stocks as the drunkard; and then hath time enough to come in with the fool’s "Had I wist," and to say, as the lion did when taken in the toil, Si praescivissem: If I had foreseen this. But why should there he among men any such Epimetheus, such a post master, an after wit?

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Pro 17:18. A man, &c., striketh hands — In token of his becoming surety; of which phrase, and the thing intended by it, see notes on Pro 6:1; Pro 11:15. This proverb is fitly placed after that in Pro 17:17, to intimate that although the laws of friendship oblige us to love and help our friends in trouble as far as we are able, yet they do not oblige us to become surety for them rashly, and above what we are able to pay, for by that means we should make ourselves unable to do good, either to them, or to others, or to ourselves.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17:18 The essence of this message is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Read Prov. 6:1.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Though Solomon had commended friendship in adversity (Pro 17:17), yet let not any, under pretence of being generous to their friends, be unjust to their families and wrong them; one part of our duty must be made to consist with another. Note, 1. It is a piece of wisdom to keep out of debt as much as may be, especially to dread suretiship. There may be a just occasion for a man to pass his word for his friend in his absence, till he come to engage himself; but to be surety in the presence of his friend, when he is upon the spot, supposes that his own word will not be taken, he being deemed insolvent or dishonest, and then who can with safety pass his word for him? 2. Those that are void of understanding are commonly taken in this snare, to the prejudice of their families, and therefore ought not to be trusted too far with their own affairs, but to be under direction.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(Compare Pro 6:1-5; Pro 11:15).

in the presence, &c.--that is, he either fails to consult his friend, or to follow his advice.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 18. Striketh hands] Striking each other's hands, or shaking hands, was anciently the form in concluding a contract. See Clarke on Pr 6:1.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) In the presence of his friend.—Or, With his neighbour. (For the same warning, comp. Pro_6:1, sqq.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

18. understanding] Lit. heart, as in Pro_17:16.

surety] See Pro_6:1 note.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A man void of understanding striketh hands,.... With his friend's creditor, and becomes surety for him; and thereby acts a very unwise part, and shows himself to want understanding, by taking such a step, which may prove the ruin of himself and family: for though a man may and should love his friend at all times; yet he is not obliged, under a notion of friendship, to injure himself and his family, or to run the risk of it; if he does, it is a plain case he wants wisdom and discretion, see Pro 6:1;

and becometh surety in the presence of his friend; not the creditor, but the debtor; and to pass his word for him, when he is present, shows that his own word will not be taken; and that he is either thought to be in bad circumstances, and incapable of payment at the proper time; or else that he is a bad man, of dishonest principles, and will not; and in either case it is not advisable to become surety for such a man: and besides, doing it in his presence may make him more careless and unconcerned about making good his payment or contract at the appointed time, when he knows his friend is engaged him.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Compare the marginal reference. Since nothing is nobler than the self-sacrifice of the true friend Pro 17:17, so nothing is more contemptible than the weakness which allows itself to be sacrificed for the sake of worthless associates.

In the presence of his friend - i. e., “On behalf of” or “to his friend for some third person.”

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Hands. Through joy, or as a mark of his consent.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Striketh hands, in token of his becoming surety; of which phrase, and of the thing itself, see on Pro 6:1; 11:15. His friend: the friend here is either,

1. Before and to the creditor. Or rather,

2. Before, and with, and for the debtor, for whom, as being his friend, he becomes surety, as the manner of friends is. See on Pro 6:3. And this proverb is fitly placed after that, Pro 17:17, to intimate, that although the laws of friendship oblige us to love and help our friends in trouble as far as we are able, yet they do not oblige us to become surety for them rashly, and above what we are able to pay, for by that means we make ourselves unable to do good either to them, or to others, or to ourselves.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18. Striketh hands — Becomes surety. (See note on Pro_6:13; Pro_11:15)

In the presence of his friend — That is, in behalf of, or to, his friends for some third person. Thus the Speaker’s Commentary, which thinks the reappearance of this warning is suggested by the previous verse.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A man void of understanding (Hebrew, heart) striketh hands; clinches the bargain which makes him responsible. (see on suretyship, Pro_6:1, etc.; and note, Pro_20:16) Becometh surety in the presence of his friend; to his friend for some third party. What is here censured is the weakness which, for the sake of perhaps worthless companions, lets itself be hampered and endangered by others" obligations. For, as our adage runs, he that is surety for another is never sure himself. The Septuagint takes the "striking of hands" to be a sign of joy (Vulgate, plaudet manibus), "The foolish man claps (epikrotei ) and rejoices in himself, so also he who pledges himself for his friend."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Friend - Debtor, for whom being his friend, he becomes surety.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

10 A divine sentence (Diviniation, 18 A man void of understanding†a (heart, Marg.) striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Though we are to feel ourselves born for adversity, ever ready to "bear one another’s burdens" (Gal 6:2 ): yet we must not befriend our brother at the risk or expense of injustice to our family. We have therefore another warning against imprudent suretyship. (Pro 6:1-5 ; Pro 11:15 .) Beware of striking hands in agreement without ascertaining, whether we can fulfill our engagement, or whether our friend is not equally able to fulfill it himself. This shews a man void of understanding; specially to do this in the presence of his friend. For why is not his word taken, but from the suspicion of insolvency or dishonesty? A prodigal, thoughtless kindness may gain us a popular name. But the principle, closely examined, will be found to be another form of selfishness. There is no true benevolence in rash engagements, which may involve our name and family in disgrace or ruin. True indeed — had not those hands that were nailed to the cross, been stricken in suretyship, the handwriting that was against us could never have been canceled. (Col 2:14 .) Yet the eternal counsel is no pattern for our simple folly. Nor is infinite love combined with perfect wisdom, a plea for our rash generosity. Religion, though it warns its professors against imprudence, yet too often unjustly bears the blame of them. If we would adorn the Christian profession, and avoid occasions of stumbling to the ungodly, we must "provide for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of man." (2Co 8:20-21 .)

Footnotes:

†a Pro 7:7 ; Pro 10:13 ; Pro 11:12 ; Pro 15:21 ; Pro 24:30 . ’It denotes the want of all the faculties of the soul, through ignorance, carelessness, and the prevalence of evil propensities of various kinds.’ Scott on Pro 11:12 .

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

v. 18. A man void of understanding, lacking in common sense, striketh hands, pledging himself and his goods foolishly, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. cf Pro 6:1-5; Pro 11:15.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A person without sense clasps hands [This refers to] surety of money. Another explanation: He clasps with the wicked to go in their ways, while he is already a guarantor for his friend. He already accepted surety for the Holy One, blessed be He, to keep His commandments.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.